Leek and taleggio risotto
Prep time: 10 minsTotal time: 
Leek and taleggio risotto
Prep time: 10 minsTotal time: 
Katie Caldesi
Katie Caldesi is a food writer who cooks up regional Italian food with her husband Giancarlo at their London bar and restaurant Caffè Caldesi, cookery school La Cucina Caldesi and Bray restaurant Caldesi in Campagna.
Katie Caldesi
Katie Caldesi is a food writer who cooks up regional Italian food with her husband Giancarlo at their London bar and restaurant Caffè Caldesi, cookery school La Cucina Caldesi and Bray restaurant Caldesi in Campagna.
Ingredients
For the walnut pesto:
- 50g walnuts
- 25g finely grated Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
- ¼ garlic clove, crushed
- 1 x 28g pack flat-leaf parsley, leaves only, finely chopped
- 125ml olive oil
- 1 tbsp ricotta
For the risotto:
- 250g leeks (2-3 leeks)
- 25g butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 sprigs of thyme, leaves only
- 400g risotto rice
- 150ml dry white wine
- 1.3-1.5 litres hot vegetable stock
- 200g Taleggio (with rind), roughly chopped (or vegetarian alternative)
Step by step
Make the pesto up to 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container under a layer of olive oil.
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Preheat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, gas 6. For the pesto, spread out the walnuts on a baking tray and bake for 6 minutes or until toasted. Transfer the walnuts to a food processor, add the rest of the pesto ingredients and season well. Whiz until smooth, then transfer to an airtight container with a lid and set aside.
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Chop the leeks finely. Heat the butter and oil together in a large heavy-based sauté pan. Add the leeks and fry over a gentle heat for 6-8 minutes until soft. Stir in the thyme leaves, then add the rice and ‘toast’ it for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Add the wine, bring to the boil and allow it to reduce for a few minutes.
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Add the hot stock a ladleful at a time, stirring constantly and waiting until a crescent-moon shape appears at the bottom of the pan before adding the next ladleful. Continue stirring ladlefuls of stock into the rice until the rice is almost cooked, but the grains are slightly al dente – this will take about 25 minutes. You may have stock left over; just use as much as you need.
TipIf you would like this to be a gluten-free recipe, please ensure your vegetable stock is guaranteed gluten-free. -
Stir in the cheese and season to taste, then immediately remove the pan from the heat and cover with a lid. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes before serving in warmed bowls, topped with a spoonful of pesto.
